Yakuza 4 Remastered Review Summary

Engaging story with multiple protagonists: The game features a compelling and intricate narrative that is easy to follow and rich in detail. It introduces four distinct protagonists, each with their own unique storylines that eventually intertwine, adding depth and variety to the gameplay experience.

Rich side content and mini-games: The game is packed with a variety of side activities and mini-games that add depth and enjoyment to the overall experience. These include karaoke, golf, gambling, and hostess clubs, among others, providing a well-rounded and immersive gameplay environment.

Character development and unique abilities: The game introduces well-developed characters, each with their own unique combat styles and abilities. This not only adds variety to the gameplay but also allows players to connect more deeply with the characters and their individual story arcs.

Enhanced graphics and technical improvements: Yakuza 4 features improved graphics, character models, and technical enhancements over its predecessor. The remastered version includes better lighting, animations, and a smoother combat system, contributing to a more polished and visually appealing game.

Expansive and immersive world: Kamurocho, the game's primary setting, has been expanded with new areas such as rooftops and underground sections. This verticality adds a new dimension to exploration, making the world feel more alive and immersive.

Confusing and convoluted story: The story is often criticized for being overly complex, convoluted, and difficult to follow. Many players found the plot to be confusing with too many twists and betrayals, making it hard to understand and enjoy.

Poor combat mechanics: The combat system is frequently described as clunky, monotonous, and frustrating. Enemies often execute infinite combos, and the targeting system is not as precise as in previous games, leading to a less enjoyable gameplay experience.

Frustrating boss fights: Boss fights are often cited as being overly difficult, unfair, and frustrating. Many players found the final boss fights to be particularly annoying and poorly designed, with significant difficulty spikes.

Repetitive and boring mini-games: Mini-games are often criticized for being repetitive, unexciting, and sometimes frustrating. The hostess maker mini-game, in particular, is mentioned as being tedious and monotonous.

Tedious and lengthy gameplay: The gameplay is often described as tedious, lengthy, and sometimes painful. This includes long cutscenes, excessive dialogue, and a lot of backtracking and running around.

Open-world exploration: The game features an expanded open world with new areas to explore, including rooftops and underground sections. This adds variety and enhances the overall exploration experience.

Camera and UI issues: Some players have reported issues with the camera and user interface, which can affect the overall gameplay experience. These issues may include navigation difficulties and lack of certain controls like a run button.

Challenging boss battles: The game features tough boss battles that can significantly reduce the player's health with one-shot attacks. These battles add a layer of difficulty and excitement to the gameplay.

Hard difficulty setting: Playing on Hard mode offers a more challenging experience, which can be painful but rewarding for players seeking a greater test of their skills.

Improved graphics and performance: The game features improved graphics over its predecessor, with better lighting, smoother character models, and animations. It also runs smoothly at 60 frames per second with enhanced resolution and performance.

Camera and graphical issues: The camera struggles in tight or crowded areas, and there are some graphical glitches and visible pop-in of pedestrians. Additionally, the game is considered heavy and hard to run by some players.

Outdated engine and graphics: Some players feel that the game uses an outdated engine, leading to rudimentary and outdated graphics. This is seen as a drawback despite other improvements.

Volume imbalance in Chapter 1: There is a noticeable volume imbalance in the background music during Chapter 1, which can affect the overall audio experience.

Reduced loading times: The game features reduced loading times, contributing to a smoother and more seamless gaming experience.

Highly recommended for story and series fans: The game is frequently recommended for its engaging story and as an essential experience for fans of the series. It is praised for its gripping storytelling, well-developed characters, and suitability for both new players and long-time fans.

Wait for a sale: Many reviews suggest waiting for a sale or buying the game at a steep discount to get the best value for money.

Play previous games first: Several reviews suggest playing previous games in the series, particularly Yakuza 3, for better context and understanding of the story.

Worth playing for gameplay and side content: The game is considered worth playing due to its engaging gameplay and side content. Players are advised to do side content early for money and XP and to play on easy to avoid frustration.

Engaging narrative and diverse gameplay: The game is praised for its engaging narrative structure and diverse gameplay, offering a variety of activities and an improved gaming experience.

Steam Deck: The analysis of user feedback for the Steam Deck experience reveals several key themes. Performance issues, particularly frequent crashes, are a significant concern for many users. Control and gameplay have mixed reviews, with some users finding it smooth while others encounter difficulties, especially with keyboard and mouse. Language support, specifically the lack of Portuguese subtitles, is also noted as an issue. Compatibility and performance on the Steam Deck are generally positive, but there are reports of unplayable experiences, indicating some underlying issues.

Ads for real online casinos: The game contains advertisements that direct players to real online casino websites. This can be concerning for some players due to potential gambling risks.